The Swedes have scored the most goals (69) of all teams in the Allsvenskan league. On the European stage, Häcken have had a relatively high number of shots on goal but the conversion rate leaves room for improvement. The team have lost all six games in European competitions in the past and conceded 21 goals (3.5 per game) and only scored three (0.5 per game) along the way.
Meanwhile good omens for the opposition: Bayer 04 have won all three previous games against Swedish clubs in Europe – 1986/87 in the UEFA Cup at home and away to Kalmar FF plus the game on matchday one in the current Europa League campaign against Häcken (4-0). And: The Black and Reds have won all four games in the Europa League this season. A fifth win would be historic as the last time there were five wins in succession in Europe was in the UEFA Cup in 1994/95.
The Swedish league season ended for Häcken three weeks ago. The champions of last season finished third this term and also won the Swedish Cup. As Häcken have not played another game since 12 November, the team prepared for the match against Bayer 04 with a friendly last Friday. The Black and Yellows, at home at the Ullevi in Gothenburg, beat Norwegian second division team Kongsvinger IL 2-1.
Häcken are bottom of the table in Group H of the Europa League with no points to date. All four games ended in defeat, sometimes significantly so. The 4-0 reverse at the Werkself was followed by a 1-0 defeat at home to Qarabag and most recently two defeats (1-5, 1-3) against Molde. Together with TSC Backa Topola, group opponents for SC Freiburg, Häcken have conceded 13 goals and that is the equal highest of all the 32 teams participating in the competition. The lowdown on the next opponents.
UEFA has appointed the Austrian Julian Weinberger as the referee the match in Gothenburg. The 38-year-old will be assisted by his fellow countrymen Andreas Heidenreich and Maximilian Kolbitsch on the touchlines and another Austrian Walter Altmann is the VAR.
As usual, Werkself Radio is available for anybody unable to be at today's game. The audio broadcast begins 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Cedric Pick. In addition, the live text update service will keep you up-to-date to ensure you don't miss any of the key match action. Both Werkself Radio and the live text update service are available at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app.
Eliminated ahead of the offline round: On Tuesday, 18 November, the Leverkusen console pros played the two remaining matches in the online preliminary round of showdown two. After picking up six points from the first four games last week, the #B04eSports team bagged another three in the two final duels - but it wasn't enough. The Leverkusen team missed out on a place in the offline knockout round, which will take place in this second showdown on 23 November in Frankfurt am Main.
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The VBL Club Championship by WOW 2025/26 continues today, Tuesday 18 November, with the last two of the six online preliminary round matches in the second showdown. Starting at 18:00 CET, Bayer 04 face Karlsruher SC, followed by Borussia Mönchengladbach at 19:00 CET. The games will be streamed live on the Bayer 04 app and on the club Twitch channel. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Just 11 days after their last encounter in the Bundesliga, Bayer 04 Women meet Hamburger SV again. On Sunday (15:00 CET), the two teams will be battling it out at the Volksparkstadion for a place in the DFB Cup quarter-finals. Coach Roberto Pätzold is aware of his team's status as favourites against the promoted outfit - and knows what it will come down to against the awkward opponents.
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Bayer 04 Women goalkeeper Charlotte Voll has been hit by injury again. The 26-year-old suffered an acromioclavicular joint separation in her left shoulder in the latter stages of the Bundesliga match at SC Freiburg on Monday and is set to be sidelined for a number of months. She underwent successful surgery in Düsseldorf on Friday.
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Like they did in the first showdown of the VBL Club Championship by WOW, which the Leverkusen gamers won in spectacular style, Marc and Sean Landwehr also started the second showdown with six points by beating TSG Hoffenheim and VfL Bochum 1848, last-16 participants of the first showdown. The #B04eSports team suffered defeat to SV Darmstadt 98 and Hertha BSC. Meanwhile, Keanu Senkbeil made his VBL CC debut in the clash with the capital club.
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